Upon arriving in Santa Maria, the first sensation is one of peace and tranquility provided by the welcoming environment, characteristic of the Azorean islands.
In the landscape, Santa Maria presents a landscape marked by the contrast of the plain of its western half, where the Airport and the parishes of Vila do Porto, São Pedro and Almagreira, and the other eastern half, much more rugged, are located the parishes of Santa Bárbara and Santo Espírito, and the highest point of the island, Pico Alto.
